Beet digger



P. l. BOYLE1 BEET BIGGER.

APPLICATION msn MAR. s. 192|.

Patented J une 27,1922.

Unirse sra'rssf riirnncr. BOYLE, or sasiiqnw, MICHIGAN.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PETER J. Borne, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Beet "Digger, of which the following is a specification.

This vinvention relates to an improved beet digger or lifter.

One object of the invention is toinount the lifting means on wheels so thatothe lifter or digger can be more easily controlled and/transported.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the digging means with relation to the frame.

A further object is to design a digger in connection with a wheeled frame having a driven roller located in the rear thereof for picking the beets from the ground and carrying them over the roller to be discharged on the ground, thereby cleaning the beets and freeingV them from other foreign matter, as well as leveling the surface of the ground.

A further object still is to design a digger so that the beets and earth Surrounding same will be raised above the top of the ground so that they may be readily picked up by the cleaning roller.

The foregoing and other advantages will appear as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views thereof.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved lifter, illustrating in dotted lines the digger proper raised for transportation from one place to another.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse Sectional view of the lifter proper.

F lg. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the cleaning roller, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the gears for driving the cleaning roller.

In the drawing in which I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have provided a frame 1 supported on the front and rear ground engaging wheels 2, and 3. The front wheels are smaller in diameter than the rear wheels and are mounted on the axle 1 which is Bnnr nies-En.

p ivoted to the frame atpoint 5, the usual clrclebeingprovided to allow these wheels to, swing in underrthe frame as yshown in dotted lines and toenable .the machine to turn in a small place. The rear wheels are mounted onstud shafts 6 securedto and depending from the frame and are further provided with agear 7, solid on the wheel and adapted to drive an idlergear 8 meshingtherewith, and also j ournaled on a shaft 9,journaled ina boxing suspended from the frame,xas isalso .the gear 10 solid ony the shaft 11', Said shaft beingprovided with the curved yprongs extending therethrough, and it will be apparent that this shaft 11 isrotated by means of the gear 7 meshing with the gear 8 which also engages the gear 10 solid on the shaft 11.

The digger or lifter 12 is formed substantially V-shaped, the front being pointed similar to the pointy of a plow, thekrear portion being formed with a heel to facilitate the smooth operation thereof, a pointed triangular plate 13 being secured in an inclined position between the sides of the lifter as shown and when the machine is operating the dirt and beets are forced up on this inclined plate and over the to 3 thereof, loosening the dirt and lifting tie beets clear of the ground.

The lifter proper is pivoted to a plate 14( by means of bolts 15, said plate being secured to the frame in any approved manner and being provided with a series of openingsfor adjusting the lifter up or down with relation to the frame. The usual handles 16 are secured to the lifter and eX- tend upwardly and rearwardly to position where they can be grasped by the operator sitting on the seat 17 solid on the frame..

A pronged roller member is revolubly mounted in the rear ofthe lifter and comprises the pipe shaft 11 having a wooden cylinder 18 securely mounted thereon. Prongs 19 extend through the pipe and cylinder 18, the ends thereof being reversel bent and are so spaced and of a length7 suflicient to pick the beets from the ground as they are discharged from the lifter, thereby freeing them from dirt and other foreign matter and depositing them on the ground in the rear thereof. The beets are first topped by means of a separate mechanism which will be the subject matterof an application to be filed at a later date. The ,machine can be power propelled by the ad- TNT oFFlfcE.

Speccation of Letters' atent. Patgnted June 27, j Application filed March 3, 1921.' Serial No. 449,400.

dition of a suitable power plant and steering gear. but in this instance l have shown it provided with the usual ytongue 20 to which horses nia7 be attached.

Freni the foregoing description it will be apparent that l have perfected a simple combined beet lifter cleaner and ground leveler, eilicient in its operation and very convenient toy manipulate.

lhat l claim is l. A beet lifter comprising, in'combination a. traine, ground engaging wheels supporting said frame, a substantially V -shaped digger pivotally secured thereto, a plate in said digger for raising the beets above the ground, and driven means positioned inthe rear of the digger for cleaning said beets and leveling the ground.

2. A beet digger comprising, in combination7 a traine7 asubstantially V-shaped dig* ger adjustably and pivotally securedtheret0, a triangular plate secured between the walls of the digger, and a driven' roller in the rear of the digger for raising the beets and leveling the ground.

A beet digger comprising, in combination, a trame, a V-sliaped digger pivotally secured thereto, a triangular plate secured in an inclined position between the side walls oit the digger.y and a pronged roller in the rear of the digger adapted to raise and agitate the beets, and deposit them on the surface of the ground in the rear of the roller.

al.. A beet digger comprising, in combination, a wheeled trarne, a digger pivotally secured thereto, a triangular plate removably secured in said digger in an inclined position, and a roller positioned in the rear of the digger, reversely curved prongs secured to the roller in spaced relation, yand means for driving the said roller.t

In'testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

PETER J. BoYLE. 

